Job search strategies: Accepting the job (part one)

Aurora Donnelly is a solo practitioner always looking forward to the next exciting transition.

The goal of a successful job search is getting the job.  But getting the job can be great or it can be a problem.  I have been thinking a lot about this issue.

In the past I have accepted jobs that seemed to be the right choice based on circumstances at the time.  But, in retrospect, I decide that accepting the position was not a wise choice, after all.  They are the jobs that turn out to be a dreadful mistake which far outweighs the temporary benefit of taking a job that you shouldn’t have, either out of desperation or out of a desire to try something new or to learn something new.

These job choices are tempting, they provide a solution to immediate problems.  But, if you can, try to avoid this trap.   Focus on the impact any job choice will have on your long-term career goals, i.e. do not take a job that does not add to the experience and skill set required for your chosen career path or area of law.  You have probably heard this before, but take it to heart, because ignoring this issue may result in spending time at a job that is unsatisfactory and make it more difficult to get back on track to the “dream job.”

Then there is the issue of  “fit.” A highly paid career counselor told me once that I should never accept a job working with people I didn’t like.  This is one of the most difficult issues to foresee.  But, typically, during the interview process you will meet current employees.

Keep in mind that the process is controlled by the employer and may not provide a realistic indication of the temperament of the individual prospective colleagues and the type of work environment.  If possible, ask if you can “sit in” with a current employee or associate for a few hours.  You will gain invaluable insight concerning the requirements of the position and most importantly, how various members of the firm or company interact. This will give you a better idea of the culture and the type of people that work there.

I know, in this job climate many of us may not have the luxury to take this seriously, but nevertheless, we should.  We unconsciously extrapolate the impression of not liking someone or some place during an interview from clues that we may not be conscious of, but which are very real and probably well founded.

We tend to ignore those clues because they are intuitive rather than rational. We, being lawyers, examine the circumstances analytically and may decide there is no tangible reason to think we won’t like a job or some significant someone we will be working with.  Or, that we can adapt to or handle the problem.  But this is a situation when we should be aware of the negative vibe and be very careful in making the decision to take that job.